New restaurant opening in Weymouth Landing in January

Neil Kiley, owner of the popular Fat Cat restaurant in Quincy, is putting the finishing touches on a new restaurant called Passport in the space at the corner of Washington and Front streets, and he hopes to open next month.

By Christian Schiavone

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Christian Schiavone

Posted Dec. 12, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 12, 2012 at 12:11 PM

By Christian Schiavone

Posted Dec. 12, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Dec 12, 2012 at 12:11 PM

WEYMOUTH

» Social News

The sign outside 61 Washington St. still bears the name of the long-gone Blue Pointe Bistro, but inside the Weymouth Landing restaurant, plenty has changed in the last three months.

Neil Kiley, owner of the popular Fat Cat restaurant in Quincy, is putting the finishing touches on a new restaurant called Passport in the space at the corner of Washington and Front streets, and he hopes to open next month.

The 35-year-old restaurateur and Weymouth Landing resident had hoped to open Passport in October, but setting up the new location wound up taking extra time.

“Realistically, any restaurant opening takes longer than expected,” he said. “We’re definitely in the home stretch as far as getting it up and going.”

The Blue Pointe Bistro closed a year ago. Weymouth’s licensing board approved a transfer of the restaurant’s all-alcohol license to Kiley and granted him a common victualer’s license in May.

Since then, the kitchen has been redone, new lighting has been put up and the space has been repainted. Things left to do include having a new mural painted on the back wall, getting a tap system installed and hiring and training a staff.

The 55-seat restaurant space still needs to get final approval from the building and health departments before it can open.

That old sign outside will also soon be replaced. Kiley will meet with town officials today to ask for permission to put up a new sign and awning.

Tom Coleman, executive chef at Fat Cat, will also oversee the kitchen at Passport and has been working on a menu of comfort-food dishes inspired by traditional European recipes. Kiley said the new restaurant will aim for a more relaxed feel than Fat Cat.

Despite the delay in opening, excitement over the new restaurant hasn’t diminished in the neighborhood.

“People are still very excited, and they’re waiting very patiently,” said Colleen Kelley, president of the Homestead Landing Civic Association.